______ _________ is London Mayor

[Sir Mick Jagger]

[url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7380947.stm"]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7380947.stm[/url]

[quote]Boris Johnson has won the race to become the next mayor of London - ending Ken Livingstone's eight-year reign at City Hall.

The Conservative candidate won with 1,168,738 first and second preference votes, compared with Mr Livingstone's 1,028,966 on a record turnout.

He paid tribute to Mr Livingstone and appeared to offer him a possible role in his new administration.

Lib Dem Brian Paddick came third and the Greens' Sian Berry came fourth.

Mr Johnson is expected to stand down as MP for Henley, triggering a by-election.

'Exuberant nerve'

In his victory speech, he described Mr Livingstone as "a very considerable public servant", adding: "You shaped the office of mayor. You gave it national prominence and when London was attacked on 7 July 2005 you spoke for London.

"And I can tell you that your courage and the sheer exuberant nerve with which you stuck it to your enemies especially in New Labour, you have thereby earned the thanks of millions of Londoners even if you think that they have a funny way of showing it today."

[u][b]FIRST AND SECOND PREFERENCE VOTES[/b][/u]

Boris Johnson: 1,168,738
Ken Livingstone: 1,028,966


He said he hoped to "discover a way in which the mayoralty can continue to benefit from your transparent love of London".

Mr Johnson said he would work to earn the trust of those that had opposed him, or who had hesitated before voting for him.

"I will work flat out to repay and to justify your confidence. We have a new team ready to go into City Hall.

"Where there have been mistakes we will rectify them, where there are achievements we will build on them, where there are neglected opportunities we will seize on them."

Livingstone 'sorry'

He promised to focus on crime, transport, green spaces, affordable homes and getting value for money for taxpayers.

Mr Johnson's victory crowns the Conservative Party's May Day local election wins in England and Wales.

He said he hoped it showed the party had changed "into a party that can be trusted after 30 years with the greatest, most cosmopolitan, multi-racial generous hearted city on earth".

[u][/u][u][b]FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES[/b][/u]

Boris Johnson (Tory): 1,043,761
Ken Livingstone (Lab): 893,877
Brian Paddick (Lib Dem): 236,685
Sian Berry, (Green): 77,374
Richard Barnbrook (BNP): 69,710
Alan Craig, (Christian Choice): 39,249
Lindsey German (Left List): 16,796
Matt O'Connor, (Eng Democrats): 10,695
Winston McKenzie (Ind): 5,389


Mr Livingstone's defeat ends what Gordon Brown has called as a "bad" day for Labour in which it suffered its worst council results for 40 years.

He thanked the Labour Party for all its help with his campaign, adding: "There is absolutely nothing that I could have asked from the Labour Party that it didn't throw into this election, from Gordon Brown right the way down to the newest recruit, handing out leaflets on very wet, cold days.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get an extra few points that would take us to victory and the fault for that is solely my own. You can't be mayor for eight years and then if you don't at third term say it was somebody else's fault. I accept that responsibility and I regret that I couldn't take you to victory."

Conservative Party leader David Cameron praised Mr Johnson for a "serious and energetic campaign" and said his party was "winning the battle of ideas".

Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick paid tribute to Ken Livingstone as "an amazing mayor" and indicated that he would not be interested in working with Mr Johnson.

He said he would be talking to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg about his future and what he could do for the party.[/quote]

Waheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!! Long live Mayor Boris!

[Donjyoâ„¢]

Oh god *censored*ing damn it. This caps it all off nicely for the Conservatives then; BoJo as Major and they murdered Labour in the elections.

[V-nom™]

Oh god no. The Liverpool hating baboon is Mayor of London. Everyone start running.

[Alberto DelRiJoe]

go boris johnson

[XXXtreme]

Ahh the conservative domination of these elections makes me sad. Sure I'm not a labour fan (they've strayed too far from their socialist leanings IMO) but I'd rather have someone whos got some kind of left leaning rather than a right wing conservative. Good to see the BNP gaining so few votes though.

[Sir Mick Jagger]

BNP is in office near where I live... Barking & Dagenham

[Donjyoâ„¢]

[quote name='XXXtreme' post='4213202' date='May 3 2008, 08:00 PM']Ahh the conservative domination of these elections makes me sad. Sure I'm not a labour fan [b](they've strayed too far from their socialist leanings IMO)[/b] but I'd rather have someone whos got some kind of left leaning rather than a right wing conservative. Good to see the BNP gaining so few votes though.[/quote]

Its all apart of the change though; move to the middle ground to try and appeal to everyone.

[Sir Mick Jagger]

Bozza is such a hypocrite... a few weeks ago he complained about Ken visiting mosques and such, and today he was celebrating his win with a whole load of Sikhs.

*Little update, he goes into office on May 5th.

[The Binge]

It surprised me BNP got so many votes actually, seeming their policies are so racistly disgusting in my opinion. Happy to see Conservative own Labour, Gordon Brown needs a good kick in the balls and Ken's arrogance in the last week really cost it for him. Hopefully Cameron will win the next general election and they won't tax my town so much!

[Guest RJT]

Ugh, not the best news.

I think this only reaffirms the case that Brown isn't electable. Milliband would be a better leader to take on Cameron frankly.

I just hope they sort themselves out before the next general elections. Britain does not need the Tories back in office (and it looks like that it will happen at this rate).